Fireproof door for theaters



No. 616,987. Patented Jail. 3, I899. F. 8-. STEWABD.

FIREPBOOF' DOOR FUR THEATERS.

(Application filed Aug. 2, 189B.)

2 Sheets-$heet I.

(No Model.)

THE NORRIS PETERS c0. FHOTD-LlTl-IO. WASHINGTON. D. c

No. 6l6,987. Patented .Ian. 3,1899. F. S. STEWARD.

FIREPBOOF DOOR FOR THEATERS.

- (Application filed Aug. 9, 1898.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Shae! 2.

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NITED STATES PATENT FFron.

FIREPROOF DOOR FOR THEATERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 616,987, dated January3, 1899. Application filed August 2 1898. Serial No. 687,491. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK S. STEW- ARD,of Kansas City, Jacksoncounty, Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inFireproof Doors for Theaters, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to folding fireproof doors for closing theproscenium-arch open ings of theaters; and it consists in certain noveland peculiar features of construction and combinations of parts, as willbe hereinafter described and claimed.

The object of the invention is to produce a door of the characterdescribed which effectually cuts off communication between theauditorium and the stage, which may be easily and quickly opened orclosed, and which is of simple, strong, durable, and inexpensiveconstruction.

In order that the invention may be fully understood, I will proceed todescribe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- IFigure 1 .represents an elevation, partly in section, showing myimproved door as closing the proscenium-arch opening of a theater,concert-hall, or other building. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of thesame. Fig. 3 is a plan view showing the slotted floor of the stagepartly broken away to disclose the tracks beneath by which the door issupported. Fig. 4 is a sectional View, on an enlarged scale, toillustrate more clearly the means for operating the door and thefireproof construction of the latter. Fig. 5 is a vertical centralcross-section.

In the said drawings, 1 designates the valance of a proscenium-archopening, and 2 a horizontally-arranged channel-bar of substantiallyinverted-U shape which reaches from side to side of theproscenium-opening at the lower margin or border of the valance.

3 designates pockets or chambers which are provided at opposite sides ofthe proscenium-opening and also at the stage side of the same, so as tobe out of sight of the audience and therefore not interfere with thedecoration or ornamentation of the auditorium side of the wall in whichthe prosceniumopening is formed.

4 4, 5 5, and 6 6 are parallel slots in the stage-floor, but so narrowthat they are hardly observable. The slots 4 4 extend outward throughtheir respective chambers 3 and have their inner ends about meeting inthe center of the proscenium-opening. The slots 5 also extend outwardthrough their respective chambers 23 and have their inner ends terminating at suitable distances apart and equal distances from the centerof the stage. The slots 6 G also extend outward through their respectiveopenings 3 and have their inner ends disposed a certain distance apartand equal distances from the center of the stage.

If the door comprise two members, each consisting of three sections, asshown in the accompanying drawings, there will be provided floor-slotsequal in number to the sections composing the members. Consequentlyinthisinstance there are provided just six slots. Vertically below theslotted portion of the floor is a substantial wall 7, preferably ofbrickwork or masonry, and secured upon the same vertically below saidslots is a track which may be composed, as herein illustrated, of aplurality of T-irons 8 8, 9 9, and 10 10*, arranged, respectively belowslots 4 4, 5 5 and 6 6.

Referring now to the door proper, it will be noticed by reference toFig. 2 and from a foregoing statement that the door is composed of aplurality of sections, and as each of these sections is of precisely thesame construction except in a detail hereinafter mentioned a descriptionof one will suffice for all. Each section, therefore,is constructed asfollowsthat is to say, 11 11 designate two similar plates of galvanizediron or its equivalent which are riveted or otherwise securedtogether,with asbestos 12 placed between them, and in order to stiffenthis structure suitable braces, as at 13, will be arranged at intervalsbetween said plates. The main elements, however, which serve to stiffenand solidify the structure are the marginal irons, which extend from thebottom to the top of the section. All of these marginal irons except onepreferably are of angle-iron,the one exception at the innermost marginof one:of the innermost sections being of T-iron, as shown at 14, inorder that the flange of said iron projecting toward the other member ofthe door may overlap the same, and thereby form a joint which cannot bepenetrated by light-rays. 'The joint may-be rendered air-tight in anysuitable manner. As

above stated, all the other marginal irons are form ed of an gle-iron15,and the angle-irons of each section are oppositely disposed to eachother, so that the arms extending vertically of the prosoenium'archopening shall embrace opposite sides of plates 11 (see Fig. 2) and theirother arms the edges of said plates and at the same time project beyondthe inner and outer faces of the same for a purpose which willhereinafter appear.

In assembling the parts of the door in their proper relative positionsthe upper edges of the sections are fitted into the inverted-Uchannel-iron 2, with the rearwardly-projecting arms of the angle-ironsat the outer edges of the several sections arranged outward of theforwardly-projecting arms of the angleirons of the section next outward,as shown clearly in Fig. 2. Consequently it will be seen that the inwardor closing movement of the innermost section of each member will, afforit traverses a distance about equal to its own width, cause theintermediate section to partake of such movement, owing to the fact thatthe rearwardly-projecting flange of angle-iron 15 at the outer edge ofthe innermost section overlaps and is overlapped by theforwardly-projecting angle-iron 15 at the front edge of saidintermediate section. After the first-named or innermost section hastraversed twice its width and the intermediate section one-half saiddistance the rearwardly-projecting arm of the angle-iron at the outeredge of said intermediate section engages the forwardly-projecting armof the angle-iron at the inner edge of the outermost section, andconsequently moves said section likewise, all of the sections of eachmember moving together until the center of the proscenium-arch isreached and the innermost sections of the two members meet. Theproscenium arch opening is now completely closed by an air-tight andfireproof door. In order to guide the lower ends of the sections andalso to render their operation as easy as practicable, one or morebrackets 16, prefer ably two, depend from their lower edges through theslots vertically below, and journaled in said brackets are rollers 17,which roll upon the tracks hereinbefore described. As thus arranged thedoor may be closed by hand, if desired; but in order to facilitate itsmovement and to time the operation so that the two members shall reachthe center of the proscenium-arch opening at the same time I provide anysuitable mechanism-for instance, that which is described as follows: 1718 designate a pair of shafts extending through the track at equaldistances from the center of the proscenium-opening and journaled inbearings 19 upon the supportingwall 7. A pair of winding-drums 2O 21 aresecured upon each shaft. These drums may be arranged at the same or atopposite sides of the track, as shown for convenience of illustration inFig. 5.

At points outward of the proscenium-opening the idle rollers 22 aresuitably journaled in the same horizontal plane as said drums, andguided around said rollers are a pair of flexible cables 23, preferablyof wire, one end of each cable extending inwardly below a drum andsecured thereto, as shown at Fig. l, or in any other suitable manner.The opposite ends of said cables are secured to the innermost sectionsof the door members, the point of connection being near the inner edgesof said sections, and preferably to lugs or eyes 24, projecting from theinnermost brackets 16 thereof, as shown clearly in Fig. 4.

25 designates a pair of cables, also of wire, by preference, which attheir inner ends extend over the upper sides of drums 21 and aresuitably secured to the drums. At their outer ends said cables aresecured to the in nermost sections of the door members, but near theirouter edges preferably to the outer most brackets 10, dependingtherefrom, as

shown at 26.

27 designates intermeshing gear wheels upon shafts 17 18, and the latteralso carries a large gear-wheel 28, driven by a gear-pinion 29 upon ashaft 30, suitably journaled. The shaft 30 preferably projects throughthe front wall of the stage into the auditorium and is provided with asquared end for convenient engagement by a crank or wrench in order thata person in the auditorium, if occasion should demand, could in anexceedingly short time out off communication between the stage and theauditorium. Said shaft, however, may also carry a gear-wheel 32 forconnection with a motor or other source of power whereby the door may beopened or closed. By operating shaft 30 motion is imparted through thetrain of gearing described to the winding-drums, which operaterelatively, as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 4:, or vice versa. Thedrums on the same shaft of course turn in the same direction, but owingto the fact that their cables 23 and 25 extend from opposite sides ofthe drums the movement which winds cables 23 upon the drums, and therebyopens the door, causes the cables 25 to unwind at a corresponding speed,and vice versa, as will be readily understood. It is obvious, therefore,that the cables are also kept taut and in proper working condition, asit is impossible to wind up one set without unwinding the other.

From the above description it will be apparent that I have produced afolding fireproof door which embodies the features of advantageenumerated in the statement of invention, and it is to be understoodthat changes in the form, proportion, arrangement, or detailconstruction of the parts may be resorted to without departing from thespirit and scope or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A folding fireproof door, comprising two members, each consisting ofa plurality of sections provided with overlapping parts, whereby it isimpossible to move one section independent of its adjacent sectionbeyond a predetermined distance, and means to cause said members to moveinward or outward synchronously, substantially as described.

2. A folding fireproof door, comprising a suitable track, a pair ofmembers mounted upon Wheels upon said track, each member consisting of aseries of sections provided with overlapping parts, whereby it isimpossible to move one section independent of the adjacent sectionbeyond a predetermined distance, substantially 'as described.

8. A folding fireproof door, comprising a suitable track, a pair ofmembers mounted upon wheels upon said track, each member consisting of aseries of sections provided with overlapping parts, whereby it isimpossible to move one section independent of its adjacent sectionbeyond a predetermined distance, a pair of shafts, drums mountedthereon, a pair of pulleys arranged at opposite sides of said opening, apair of cables extending around the said pulleys and under and securedto a pair of the drums, and having their opposite ends attached to theinnermost sections of the door members near their inner edges, a pair ofcables attached at their outer ends to said sections near their outeredges, and extending over and secured to the remaining pair of drums,and means to op erate said shafts, substantially as and for the withoverlapping parts, whereby it is impossible to move one sectionindependent of its adjacent section beyond a predetermined distance, apair of shafts, drums mounted thereon, a pair of pulleys mounted atopposite sides of said openings, a pair ofcables extending around thesaid pulleys and under and secured to a pair of the drums, and havingtheir opposite ends attached to the innermost sections of the doormembers near their inner edges, a pair of cables attached at their outerends to said sections near their outer edges, and extending over andsecured to the remaining pair of drums, intermeshing gearwheels mountedupon said shafts, and a driven shaft geared to one of said shaftswhereby a synchronous movement is imparted to both, substantially asdescribed.

5. A folding fireproof door for prosceniumarch openings, comprising twomembers, each I FREDERICK S. STEWARD.

Vitnesses M. R. REMLEY, G. Y. THORPE.

